Control device for a timepiece in a case



R. WYSSEN Dec. 12, 1967 Filed Dec. 9, 1 966 FIG! United States Patent3,357,173 CONTROL DEVICE FOR A TIMEPIECE IN A CASE Rodolphe Wyssen,Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Fabrique dc Couronnes Boninchi S.A.,Geneva, Switzerland, a company of Switzerland Filed Dec. 9, 1966, Ser.No. 600,597 Claims priority, application Switzerland, June 14, 1966,8,575/ 66 4 Claims. (CI. 58-63) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A controldevice for transmitting a unidirectional rotational movement to atimepiece mechanism housed in a case, the control device having amanually operable button having an internal hollow portion defined by awall, a socket penetrating into the hollow portion and having a Walllying adjacent the wall of the button, there being a space between thewall of the socket and the wall of the button, a stem mounted in thesocket and mechanically coupled to the socket for rotation therewith, aplurality of rollers disposed in the space between the adjacent walls, aplurality of stricture members formed on one of the walls and narrowingthe space, these members being so disposed that when the button isrotated in one direction the button drives the socket by wedging therollers between the stricture members and the wall adjacent thestricture members and when the button is rotated in a direction oppositeto the first direction the button does not wedge the rollers and hencedoes not drive the socket.

The winding and setting mechanism used until now have comprised awinding stem driving, in the Winding position, a sliding pinion by arewinding pinion, the unidirectional driving necessary being effected byteeth in the shape of saw teeth on the two pinions. This solutionrequires the use of a spring acting against the sliding pinion allowingthe latter to move axially when the control crown is turned in thedirection opposite to the Winding direction.

The present invention proposes to provide a unidirectional drive, nolonger inside the case, but on the level of the crown. It has for itsobject a control device for transmitting a unidirectional rotationalmovement to a timepiece mechanism housed in a case, said control devicecomprising a manually operable button having an internal hollow portiondefined by a wall, a socket penetrating into said hollow portion andhaving a wall lying adjacent said wall of said button, there bing aspace between said wall of the socket and said wall of the button, astem mounted in said socket and mechanically coupled to said socket forrotation therewith, a plurality of roller members disposed in said spacebetween said adjacent walls of said button and said socket, a pluralityof stricture members formed on one of said adjacent Walls, and forming anarrowing of said space, said stricture members being oriented in such away that when the button is rotated in one direction said button drivesthe socket by wedging said roller members between said stricture membersand the Wall adjacent to said stricture members, and when the button isrotated in a direction opposite to said one direction said button doesnot wedge said roller members and hence does not drive said socket.

The accompanying drawing represents by way of example one embodiment ofthe object of the invention.

FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a watertight winding mechanismin a locked position.

3,357,173 Patented Dec. 12, 1967 FIGURE 2 shows the same windingmechanism in its rewinding position.

FIGURE 3 shows the winding mechanism in its hoursetting position.

The winding mechanism shown in the drawing comprises a winding button 1driving, by a roller clutch 2, a socket 3 integral in rotation with astem holder 4 by means of a square 5 passing through the bottom ofsocket 3, on which socket 3 can move with a slight play limited by thescrew head 6. The watertightness of the device is effected by twopackings 7 and 8 lodged in an annular groove 9 of pendant 10 passingthrough wall 11 of the case.

In the position shown on FIGURE 1, the Winding button 1 is locked onpendant 10 by a spur locking device 12, 13, the part 12 rigid with thebutton consisting of a ring set in the button after introduction ofrollers 2. In this position, a third water-tight packing 14 consistingof an elastic material is deformably pressed between socket 3 and theextremity of pendant 10. The upper opening of pendant 10 has a diametergreater than the diameter of stem holder 4 in such a way as to allow thedeformation of packing 14.

While the inner surface of hollow 15 of button 1 is perfectlycylindrical, the surface opposite the socket has ramps 16 oriented inthe same direction and forming strictures or narrowed sections whichprogress between the socket 3 and button 1. Thus when the button isrotated in the rewinding direction, it will in turn drive socket 3 bywedging rollers 2 between the socket and the button. On the contrary,when the button is turned in the direction opposite to the rewindingdirection, the rollers 2 roll first against the two cylindrical facingsurfaces and are stopped by a wall 17, remaining in this position whichthey occupy with a certain play permitting the button to slide on therollers without driving socket 3.

To go from the locked position to the rewinding position (FIGURE 2), itsufiices to turn button 1. When the lock is in the unlocked position,the decompression of packing 14 suflices to drive socket 3 and therebybutton 1 upwardly, disengaging the button from the pendant. The buttonis maintained on the socket by the ring of lock 12 which comes to bearagainst rollers 2 themselves held by a ring 18 fitted at the end of thesocket.

To go from the rewinding position to the setting position (FIGURE 3), itsuflices to pull on the button which drives the socket and the rewindingstem by means of the same rollers.

It should be noted that during disengagement of the button from thependant, no water chamber forms between the fixed joints and thecompressive joint 14, which is a great advantage.

Instead of rollers it is possible to use balls to obtain the sameeffect.

What is claimed is:

1. A control device for transmitting a unidirectional rotationalmovement to a timepiece mechanism housed in a case, said control devicecomprising:

(A) a manually operable button having an internal hollow portion definedby a wall,

(B) a socket penetrating into said hollow portion and having a walllying adjacent said wall of said button, there being a space betweensaid wall of the socket and said wall of the button,

(C) a stem mounted in said socket and mechanically coupled to saidsocket for rotation therewith,

(D) a plurality of roller members disposed in said space between saidadjacent walls of said button and said socket,

(E) a plurality of stricture members formed on one of said adjacentwalls, and forming a narrowing of said space,

(F) said stricture members being oriented in such a way that when thebutton is rotated in one direction said button drives the socket bywedging said roller r members between said stricture members and thewall adjacent to said stricture members, and when the button is rotatedin a direction opposite to said one direct-ion said button does notwedge said roller members and hence does not drive said socket.

2. A control device according to claim 1 in which stricture members areformed on the socket, and in which said the wall defining the hollowportion of the button is cylindrical in shape.

3. A control device according to claim 2 in which: (A) said manuallyoperable button is a winding and (B) said roller members beingcylindrical in shape,

(C) and said button being adapted to engage said roller members duringits axial displacement outwards from its inner position, therebydisplacing said roller membe-rs,

(D) said roller members in turn engaging a projection on said socketthereby axially displacing said socket when said button is displacedoutwards from said middle position to said outer position.

4. A control device according to claim 3 including a sealing memberdisposed axially between said pendant and said socket, said sealingmember being compressed elastically between said pendant and said socketwhen said button is in its inner position locked on said pendant, saidsealing member decompressing when said button is unlocked from thependant and driving the socket axially outwards.

No references cited.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. MICHAEL LORCH, AssistantExaminer.

1. A CONTROL DEVICE FOR TRANSMITTING A UNIDIRECTIONAL ROTATIONALMOVEMENT TO A TIMEPIECE MECHANISM HOUSED IN A CASE, SAID CONTROL DEVICECOMPRISING: (A) A MANUALLY OPERABLE BUTTON HAVING AN INTERNAL HOLLOWPORTION DEFINED BY A WALL, (B) A SOCKET PENETRATING INTO SAID HOLLOWPORTION AND HAVING A WALL LYING ADJACENT SAID WALL OF SAID BUTTON, THEREBEING A SPACE BETWEEN SAID WALL OF THE SOCKET AND SAID WALL OF THEBUTTON, (C) A STEM MOUNTED IN SAID SOCKET AND MECHANICALLY COUPLED TOSAID SOCKET FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, (D) A PLURALITY OF ROLLER MEMBERSDISPOSED IN SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT WALLS OF SAID BUTTON ANDSAID SOCKET, (E) A PLURALITY OF STRICTURE MEMBERS FORMED ON ONE OF SAIDADJACENT WALLS, AND FORMING A NARROWING OF SAID SPACE, (F) SAIDSTRICTURE MEMBERS BEING ORIENTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT WHEN THE BUTTON ISROTATED IN ONE DIRECTION SAID BUTTON DRIVES THE SOCKET BY WEDGING SAIDROLLER MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID STRICTURE MEMBERS AND THE WALL ADJACENT TOSAID STRICTURE MEMBERS, AND WHEN THE BUTTON IS ROTATED IN A DIRECTIONOPPOSITE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION SAID BUTTON DOES NOT WEDGE SAID ROLLERMEMBERS AND HENCE DOES NOT DRIVE SAID SOCKET.